PESHAWAR, May 26: The sports and culture committee of the NWFP Assembly is considering a proposal to set up a food park at a place reserved for the construction of a 2,000-seat open-air theatre.

The decision is likely to draw sharp criticism from writers, poets and artists who have already been complaining of restrictions imposed by the MMA government on cultural activities in Nishtar Hall, the sole theatre of the NWFP.

Governor Iftikhar Hussain Shah has allocated a hefty amount for the construction of the theatre but the religious parties' alliance shelved the project after coming into power.

The theatre project was supposed to be completed at a cost of Rs40 million in different phases, but the plan was dropped as the MMA government placed a ban on music shows, dramas and other cultural activities.

"Now the sports and culture committee is considering setting up of a food park at the spot reserved for the theatre and a plan in this regard would soon be presented to Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani," Farah Aqil Shah, a member of the committee, told Dawn.

Local artists have been complaining of shortage of theatre in the province since long. The Abasin Arts Council (AAC), a literary body with about 200 members, including writers, poets and painters, was made an ineffective body by the MMA soon after coming into power by handing over the ACC office to the Nifaz-i-Shariat Council.

"Artists should be encouraged. There are many places in the city where a theatre can be constructed but the government is not serious in encouraging and supporting artists and to promote them," said Farah Shah.

The ban on music shows, dramas and other cultural activities in Nishtar Hall had discouraged artists. Due to lack of support from the government and non-existence of theatres in the province artists have been forced to move to other cities. Some of them have even left the country.

"Artists were facing financial problems due to the imposition of ban on dramas and stage shows," said Alamzaib Mujahid, a stage artist. Nishtar Hall, which was earlier used by the AAC for literary activities, was rented out for about Rs8,000 to NGOs and political parties to conduct their programmes.

According to a member of the house committee on sports and culture, the culture department has proposed that a food park should be set up at the site where construction of a theatre was earlier planned. At present, the site where food park is planned, is being used for holding industrial exhibitions.